197: Natural Healing Show with Catherine Carrigan - Episode 197197: Natural Healing Show with Catherine Carrigan - Episode 197
UK Health Radio Podcast
Catherine Carrigan talks with acupuncturist John Jarsveld about moxibustion, explaining how heat from burning mugwort can support immunity, pain relief and digestion alongside modern medical care. The conversation covers history, research, charity work and practical tips for safe home use and clinical treatment.
46:27•1 Nov 2026
Moxibustion, Mugwort and Modern Medicine: Catherine Carrigan with John Jarsveld
Episode Overview
- Moxibustion uses burning mugwort on or near acupuncture points to provide focused heat that can relax tissue, boost circulation and stimulate the body’s responses.
- The method has deep roots in Chinese medicine and has been strongly maintained in Japan, where some practitioners work only with moxa rather than needles.
- Research and clinical experience suggest moxibustion can support immune function and may offer help with conditions that are difficult to treat, including long Covid, fibromyalgia and chronic infections.
- Moxibustion does not interact with medication, so it can be used alongside antibiotics and other conventional treatments, especially to rebuild strength after heavy courses of drugs.
- With proper guidance and care around fire safety and dosage, simple home moxibustion routines on points like Stomach 36 can become a practical self‑care tool for digestion, fatigue and general resilience.
“Please do not look down upon old remedies, genuine old remedies, just because they’re old.”
How do people manage co-occurring health challenges while seeking gentler, more natural support? This UK Health Radio episode of The Natural Healing Show brings together medical intuitive healer and author Catherine Carrigan with Dutch acupuncturist John Jarsveld for a detailed chat about moxibustion – the traditional practice of using burning mugwort on or near the skin to stimulate healing.
You’ll get a clear, down‑to‑earth explanation of what moxibustion actually is, how it’s historically paired with acupuncture, and why some practitioners now use it on its own. John sketches out the long history behind the technique, from its roots in China to its strong preservation in Japan, and shares how he was inspired by moxa master Fukuya Iseburu, whose “little moxa box” and simple tools allowed him to treat countless people even in wartime hardship.
He mentions using moxibustion alongside acupuncture for issues such as long Covid, fibromyalgia, frozen shoulder and chronic bladder infections, stressing that it does not interfere with medication and can sit alongside hospital care and antibiotics: “Any tool we have is worth exploring.” Catherine keeps things relatable with her own love of heated bean bags and a story of resolving severe stomach pain through stimulation of the classic point Stomach 36, which John describes as a key spot for digestion, blood support and general resilience.
The conversation focuses heavily on immunity and hard‑to‑treat conditions. John talks about research from Japanese physician Dr Hara, who practised to the age of 102, and explains how heat can influence thermoreceptive proteins and support the body’s own defences. The episode also touches on charity work from MoxAfrica around tuberculosis in low‑resource settings, and on simple home use where people can apply small amounts of moxa themselves with proper caution and guidance.
If you’re curious about gentle, heat‑based therapies that might support immunity, digestion, pain and recovery alongside conventional care, this conversation gives plenty to think about – could moxibustion be a tool worth adding to your healing toolkit?
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